Article by Sergiu Alexandru – Published Sunday, May 17, 2026, 1:16 p.m. / Updated Sunday, May 17, 2026, 1:16 p.m.
Ioan Varga reacted for Gazeta Sporturilor after CFR Cluj secured 3rd place, which leads to the Conference League preliminaries. And he said that he wants Daniel Pancu to continue in Transylvania.
The tie with Dinamo, 0-0, made CFR Cluj certain of the 3rd place and the presence in the preliminaries of the European cups. What led to the automatic extension of the contract of Daniel Pancu, who does not know if he wants to stay at CFR Cluj, being wanted by Rapid, but also by other clubs from abroad.
After the match at the “Arc de Triumf”, Pancu explained under what conditions he would stay at CFR Cluj and said that he does not have a problem with the financier Ioan Varga, with whom he contracted in public statements recently.
Ioan Varga still wants Daniel Pancu at CFR Cluj: “I was angry and influenced”
In a statement for GSP.ro, Ioan Varga said he apologizes for the harsh reactions to Daniel Pancu, whom he congratulated for the results and whom he said he still wants in the team.
“I am very happy for this qualification in the European Cups. I want to congratulate the boys, the staff, Pancu and the management. I am very proud of the work they have done in these difficult months.
And I want to publicly apologize for my outbursts to Pancu. I was angry and I was also influenced by everything I read. I was far from home, with a lot on my mind, and I reacted too harshly. I didn't say it was insensitive, I said it was insensitive. But I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend him. I appreciate and respect him a lot. He is a coach of value and character. I like him a lot, I'm glad I brought him to the team and I still support him.
I really want him to continue and he has my full support. I want us to perform together, to take the club where it belongs. If he has problems, we talk in private. I don't want to make a public scandal anymore. I don't like it. Let him make a list of everything he needs and wants, and we'll do our best to help him. I definitely want to strengthen the team. I want us to win trophies again. I help him as much as I can.
It was a tough year, but like any club, there were good times and bad times. But I say we have surpassed them. We worked hard abroad so that there would be no more financial problems at the club, and from next season we would be much stronger and more stable. And I want to go further with Daniel Pancu.
The conditions set by Daniel Pancu to continue at CFR Cluj
Daniel Pancu will decide in the coming days whether he will continue in Gruia and declares that he has no problem with the financier Ioan Varga, even if he called him “insensitive”. It just puts more conditions on it.
Daniel Pancu, after 0-0 with Dinamo // photo: Cristi Preda (GSP)
“I don't hide that there are teams interested in me. A decisive week is coming. I think carefully. We are in football, anything can happen. I hope to be inspired and make the right decision for myself. Starting after this game, I have two years left on my contract. On Saturday night the contract was extended.
To stay, there are several conditions. Mainly, I want the players not to leave. Then there should be no salary delays. Here they have always been, but when there are delays, my requirements can no longer be implemented to the maximum. If I want to go to a team where the money is up to date and where there is a good training base, I can do it. I have the right to do it, it's my future. I am attached to the players, the city and the supporters, but we will see.
In order to stay, first of all the players must be kept and the team strengthened, if we want to talk about European cups. But I don't think this team will be kept. I repeat, it will be a decisive week. I hope to be inspired. It was a terrible 6 months.
I have no problem with Mr. Varga. I met him. That's how he is. Today he curses you, tomorrow he kisses you. If I want to leave, surely there is a termination clause. But I don't know how much it is. I'll look. I only knew that the contract would be extended if they won the European Cups. I have no problem with Mr. Varga. I just have some requirements. He can say what he wants, that he's the boss. I have my requirements and it is my right. Let's see if certain conditions are met…”, said Daniel Pancu.
